Aquatic construction module and method of forming thereof

ABSTRACT

A wall structure formed of a plurality of bags which can be stored in collapsible form and which expand when filled with an aggregate such as concrete. The bags have an inlet through which the aggregate can be inserted. The bags also have a portion which can interlock with an adjacent bag so as to prevent movement of the bags due to water energy, action or erosion. Reinforcing means such as rods or wire mesh can also be used in conjunction with the concrete. The bags can be stored and then rapidly filled at the site of a desired protective structure such as a dam, breakwater, or levee.

United States Patent 1 Porraz Jimenez Labora June 3,1975

[76] Inventor: Mauricio Porraz Jimenez Labora,

Bosque de Moctezuma No. 9, Mexico City, Mexico 22 Filed: Nov. 12, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 415,059

[52] US. Cl. 61/3; 52/173; 52/594; 61/30; 61/37; 61/49 [51] Int. Cl E02b 3/00; E02b 7/08 [58] Field of Search 61/37, 38, 4, 3, 30, 46, 61/49; 52/593, 173, 594

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,857 7/1922 Store 61/46 1,777,926 10/1930 Lillard 52/585 3,213,628 10/1965 Serota.... 61/4 3,234,741 2/1966 Ionides... 61/38 3,342,033 9/1967 Crosch 61/30 3,383,864 5/1968 Turzillo 61/38 8/1970 Turzillo ....6l/38 7/1973 Kahn ..6l/3O Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Assistant Examiner-Alex Grosz Attorney, Agent, or FirmNilsson, Robbins, Bissell, Dalgarn & Berliner [57] ABSTRACT A wall structure formed of a plurality of bags which can be stored in collapsible form and which expand when filled with an aggregate such as concrete. The bags have an inlet through which the aggregate can be inserted. The bags also have a portion which can interlock with an adjacent bag so as to prevent movement of the bags due to water energy, action or erosion. Reinforcing means such as rods or wire mesh can also be used in conjunction with the concrete. The bags can be stored and then rapidly filled at the site of a desired protective structure such as a dam, breakwater, or levee.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures AQL'ATIC CONSTRUCTION MODULE AND METHOD OF FORMING THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Art The field of art to which the invention pertains includes the field of aquatic wall structures and method of manufacture thereof. particularly with respect to a wall structure which can be formed directly at the site of a levee utilizing interlocking bags which can be stored until needed for use.

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional levees, breakwaters and temporary type dams which are constructed of elements such as rocks or quarry also prefabricated concrete elements all of which have been transported at the desired position using costly and heavy construction equipment.

Small bags hand filled with sand and transported to the site have been used for emergency works against floods, storms and war defenses.

Alternative type arrangements include the use of bags which are filled with water themselves at the dam site. Such a structure is normally only good for a temporary period of time and utilizes a structural system which interties each of the bags. Moreover, since the material in the bags is approximately the same weight as the material which the bag is tending to stop the flow of i.e. the water, the net result is a relatively inadequate type structure.

Known prior art includes US. Pat. Nos. 3,213,628 and 3,614,866.

In order to overcome the attendent disadvantages of prior art water blocking type wall structures, the present invention provides a structure which can be easily formed directly at the site. The structure comprises a plurality of bags each of which can be collapsed for storage and expanded when filled with the desired type material. Interlocking devices are provided so that each of the bags can be interlocked with an adjacent bag and thus prevent movement of the bags due to water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wall structure formed of a plurality of collapsible bags. Each of the bags are collapsed for storage, ease of transportation and can expand for filling the bags with aggregates located at the wall site. Each of the bags have an inlet for filling the bags at the site of the wall structure with the aggregate. Means are formed on the bag for interlocking adjacent filled bags with each other and preventing movement of the bags due to water movement against the bags.

The advantagaes of this invention, both as to its construction and mode of operation, will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like referenced numerals designate like parts throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGv l is a perspective view ofa typical wall structure constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away of a pair of collapsible bags constructed in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partially broken away of an al ternative embodiment of collapsible bags forming a wall structure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view partially broken away illustrating the technique for storing the bags of FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIG. 5 is a planar view of a typical wall site utilizing the bags of FIGS. 1-4; and

FIG. 6 is a view of the wall site of FIG. 5 after soil movement has occurred.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings there is shown in FIG. I a typical wall 12 constructed in accordance with principles of the invention. The wall 12 can be used as a dike, or levee or other similar-type water break or dam structure.

The wall 12 comprises a plurality of bags 14 each of which have been filled at the wall site with an aggregate such as sand, rock, gravel, concrete mortar or similartype mixtures enabling the bags to be weighted sufficiently so that movement and energy of water against the bags will not harm the wall structure to any significant degree. Each of the bags contain protuberances 16 which interlock with indentations 18 in adjacent bags. It should be understood that the protuberances and indentations may be formed in either a random pattern or in an arbitrary manner. The main purpose of the indentations and the protuberences is to interlock with adjacent bags sufficiently that movement between the bags is minimized.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated one type of bag construction. FIG. 2 illustrates a pair of bags 22 and 24 which are interlocked by means of a protuberance 26 on the bag 24 which fits into an indentation 28 formed on the bag 22. The bag 24 further contains a second protuberance 32. The bag 22 is constructed similar to the bag 24 and is of generally rectangular configuration and contains a first protuberance 34 and a second protuberance 36 extending from a top surface 38 of the bag.

The bags 22 and 24 are generally constructed of industrial ployester, polypropylene, polyethylene, or similar materials. Typically, such material enables the bag to be collapsible when not in use as well as being flexible. Each of the bags are illustrated as containing at least two indentations. The purpose of the indentations is twofold. First the indentations are utilized to fill the bags with an aggregate type mixture such as sand, rock or concrete. One protuberance is used as an inlet and the second protuberance normally is used as a safety outlet for excess pressure when filling the bag. Additionally, it should be understood that the bags could be formed with more than two protuberances and the protuberances need not be formed on the top surface only of the bags but along any bottom surface or side edge as well.

Each of the protuberances formed in the bags 22 and 24 of FIG. 2 are illustrated as containing a rod such as the rod 42 positioned in the protuberance 26 of bag 24. The rod performs the useful purpose of enabling a mouth 44 in the bag to be open when the bag is being filled. Additionally, when concrete is being used. the rod is typically made of metal such as steel and is used as a reinforcing bar.

Plastic or steel mesh layers 46 and 48 can also be provided in the bag. The number of steel mesh layers for use with reinforced concrete is of course a matter of choice or design with any number of layers from one through a maximum depending upon the thickness of the bags 22 and 24 possible. Of course it should be understood that the bags could be filled with concrete or mortar without use of the steel rod 42 or the mesh lay ers 46 or 48.

In normal installation, the bags are placed as close to the site where erosion protection wall 12 is to be provided. The bags are then filled with the material such as the gravel or concrete. In certain instances conveyer or tubular type members can be used to fill the bag directly where the bag is to be placed, so that the bag need not be moved once it is filled. Additionally, it should be understood that the bags could even be filled underwater by divers.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown an alternative configuration for the bags illustrated in FIG. 2. The bag 52 contains a base 54 of generally elongate, rectangular configuration and a plurality of upstanding legs two of which legs 56 and 58 at either end thereof are shown in their entirety. The legs are spaced from each other to define an indentation 62 in the bag 52 which is equal in thickness to one of the legs 56 and 58. Therefore, a bag 72 which is positioned on top of the bag 52 can have one of its legs 74 positioned between the legs 56 and 58 of the bag 52. Additionally, it should be noted that the bag 72 contains protuberances 76 and 78 on one of its sides. These could be used as inlet and outlets in a similar manner as the bag 22 protuberances 34 and 36 of FIG. 2. In addition, the protuberances 76 and 78 could also be used to interlock with indentations in an adjacent sidemounted bag (not shown). The bags 52 and 72 can also contain plastic or steel mesh layers 82 and 84 respectively, as illustrated in the bag 52. Once again, of course, the layers are optional, dependent on whether or not reinforced concrete is desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, there is shown a bag of the type shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 in its collapsed state and partially rolled up for storage. The bag 92 contains a pair of plastic or wire mesh member 94 and 96 therein. The bag material is folded between the layers and then the bag is rolled up in the direction shown by the arrow. The protuberances in the bag are normally folded in or tucked in and therefore minimize storage problems.

While the wall structure of FIG. 1 has been illustrated as being formed ofa single row of bags, it should be understood that a plurality of rows could be used as well. Additionally, certain of the bags could be utilized to interlock adjacent rows of the wall structure.

FIG. illustrates a typical wall construction utilizing the bags of FIGS. 1-4. In FIG. 5 a main wall structure 102, is interlocked with a wall section formed of a bag 104. The bag 104 can be a single elongated bag such as the bag 52 or 72 of FIG. 3, or can be a plurality of such bags. Further, additional similar interlocking bags (not shown) could be placed on top of the bag 104.

The bag 104 (or bags) are positioned on the sand bottom 106. As can be seen in FIG. 6, when erosion occurs, the bag 104 follows the shape of the eroded bottom and tends to prevent sedimentary erosion under the main wall structure 102. Further. the unions between the bag 104 and adjacent bagsact as axes enabling the structure to provide greater flexibility.

I claim:

1. A construction module for in situ placement of aggregate comprising:

a collapsible bag of nonporous material, said bag being collapsible for storage and transportation, and expandable for filling with aggregate;

said bag having an inlet means including an outwardly extending protuberance for receiving said aggregate at the construction site;

said bag having an outlet means including an outwardly extending protuberance for relief of pressure build-up in said bag as aggregate is inserted therein;

means disposed in said inlet and outlet means including a rod permanently affixed therein and extending through said protuberance into said bag for retaining said inlet and outlet means open during the filling of said bag with said aggregate; and

means formed on said bags for interlocking adjacent filled bags with each other for preventing movement of said bags due to water movement against said bags comprising an elongate inlet and an elongate outlet and a metal reinforcing rod centrally positioned in said inlet and outlet extending parallel to the axis of said inlet and outlet, said outlet enabling air to escape from said bag when said aggregate is fed into said bag.

2. A construction module in accordance with claim 1 wherein reinforcing means are formed in said bags for forming a reinforced type structure.

3. A construction module in accordance with claim 2 wherein said reinforcing means includes at least one layer of wire mesh formed in said bag.

4. A construction module in accordance with claim 3 wherein said bag may be collapsed and rolled up for storage.

5. A construction module as defined in claim 1 wherein said bag is formed of a continuous single layer nonporous material defining a smooth surface opposed said protuberances, said bags when stacked one on top of the other being interlocked by said smooth surface and said aggregate in said bag deforming to substantially conform to said protuberances.

6. A wall structure formed of a plurality of aggregate filled collapsible bags, each of said bags being collapsible for storage and transportation, and expandable for filling said bags with aggregate, each of said bags having an inlet means for filling said bags at the site of said wall structure with said aggregate; and

means including said protuberances and said rods for interlocking adjacent filled bags with each other for preventing movement of said bags due to water movement against said bags.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE d QERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION PATENT NO. 2 3,886,751

DATED 1 June 3, 1975 |NVENTOR(5) 1 Mauricio Porraz Jimenez Labora It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent 9 are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, Line 25 After means take out "formed on said bags" insert including said protuberances and said rods-- Column 4, Line 28 After bags should be rest should be eliminated Column 4, Line 55 Before collapsible remove "aggregate filled" Column 4, Lines 55 through 59 Eliminate completely,

should be means formed on said bags for interlocking adjacent filled bags with each other for preventing movement of said bags due to water movement against said bags comprising an elongate inlet and an elongate outlet and a metal reinforcing rod centrally positioned in said inlet and outlet extending parallel to the axis of said inlet and outlet, said outlet enabling air to escape from said bag when said aggregate is fed into said bag.- a Signed and Scaled thlS twenty-sixth Day Of August 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ufParenrs and Trademarks 

1. A construction module for in situ placement of aggregate comprising: a collapsible bag of nonporous material, said bag being collapsible for storage and transportation, and expandable for filling with aggregate; said bag having an inlet means including an outwardly extending protuberance for receiving said aggregate at the construction site; said bag having an outlet means including an outwardly extending protuberance for relief of pressure build-up in said bag as aggregate is inserted therein; means disposed in said inlet and outlet means including a rod permanently affixed therein and extending through said protuberance into said bag for retaining said inlet and outlet means open during the filling of said bag with said aggregate; and means formed on said bags for interlocking adjacent filled bags with each other for preventing moveMent of said bags due to water movement against said bags comprising an elongate inlet and an elongate outlet and a metal reinforcing rod centrally positioned in said inlet and outlet extending parallel to the axis of said inlet and outlet, said outlet enabling air to escape from said bag when said aggregate is fed into said bag.
 1. A construction module for in situ placement of aggregate comprising: a collapsible bag of nonporous material, said bag being collapsible for storage and transportation, and expandable for filling with aggregate; said bag having an inlet means including an outwardly extending protuberance for receiving said aggregate at the construction site; said bag having an outlet means including an outwardly extending protuberance for relief of pressure build-up in said bag as aggregate is inserted therein; means disposed in said inlet and outlet means including a rod permanently affixed therein and extending through said protuberance into said bag for retaining said inlet and outlet means open during the filling of said bag with said aggregate; and means formed on said bags for interlocking adjacent filled bags with each other for preventing moveMent of said bags due to water movement against said bags comprising an elongate inlet and an elongate outlet and a metal reinforcing rod centrally positioned in said inlet and outlet extending parallel to the axis of said inlet and outlet, said outlet enabling air to escape from said bag when said aggregate is fed into said bag.
 2. A construction module in accordance with claim 1 wherein reinforcing means are formed in said bags for forming a reinforced type structure.
 3. A construction module in accordance with claim 2 wherein said reinforcing means includes at least one layer of wire mesh formed in said bag.
 4. A construction module in accordance with claim 3 wherein said bag may be collapsed and rolled up for storage.
 5. A construction module as defined in claim 1 wherein said bag is formed of a continuous single layer nonporous material defining a smooth surface opposed said protuberances, said bags when stacked one on top of the other being interlocked by said smooth surface and said aggregate in said bag deforming to substantially conform to said protuberances. 